Ancient and Prehistoric Origins

Celtic and Gallo-Roman Era:

Originally called Cessero, Saint-Thibéry was a Celtic settlement before becoming a Gallo-Roman town. The Via Domitia, the first Roman road in Gaul (built c. 120 BC), passed through the village, linking Italy to Spain. Local basalt columns—formed by prehistoric lava flows—attest to its volcanic past

Roman Engineering:

The Roman Bridge (30 BC–14 AD) spanned the Hérault River with nine arches, showcasing advanced engineering. Floods destroyed parts by 1536, but three arches remain today 49.
Medieval Development (8th–15th Centuries)

Abbey Foundation:

In the late 8th century, the Benedictine Abbey was founded by Attilio, a disciple of Saint Benedict of Aniane, near the tomb of three local martyrs. The abbey became a pilgrimage stop on the Santiago de Compostela route

For centuries, locals believed the relics of Saint Tiberius (the village’s namesake) could cure mental illnesses. The "treatment" involved locking the afflicted in a tower for nine days, where they’d emerge only to attend ceremonies in an underground chapel. The catch? Some patients would desperately cling to the door’s bolt (barroul) to avoid being locked up again—even biting it! To this day, when someone acts strangely, villagers joke: "Lou cal menar a San Tibéri baïsar lou barroul" ("They’ll have to be taken to Saint-Thibéry to kiss the bolt")

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